Germ Hunter: A Story about Louis Pasteur

by Elaine Marie Alphin, Elaine Verstraete (Illustrator)

Overview

Growing up in the 1830s, Louis Pasteur saw the horrifying effects of diseases like rabies and tuberculosis. Filled with curiosity and imagination, Pasteur began a lifelong search for answers to his many questions about diseases. Although many scientists disagreed with his unusual ideas, his discoveries made him famous. Through his dedication and insight, Pasteur saved millions of lives and laid the groundwork for future medical advancements.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780876149294
Publisher:	Lerner Publishing Group
Publication date:	03/15/2003
Series:	Creative Minds Biographies Series
Pages:	64
Product dimensions:	(w) x (h) x 0.15(d)
Age Range:	10 - 11 Years

About the Author

Since her first novel for young readers appeared in 1991, Elaine Marie Alphin published 27 books for young people and one for adults (about writing for young people). Elaine wrote for readers of all ages, from Davy Crockett in Lerner's History Makers series for beginning readers up through teenage mysteries such as Counterfeit Son, winner of the Edgar Award for Best Young Adult mystery. Elaine loved research, and that love impacted all of her writing, from biographies for middle grade readers like I Have Not Yet Begun To Fight: A Story About John Paul Jones in the Creative Minds series through young adult fiction such as the history-inspired mystery, The Perfect Shot to the stand-alone nonfiction young adult book An Unspeakable Crime: The Prosecution and Persecution of Leo Frank.  

Elaine S. Verstraete creates art and illustration from her studio in Middlesex, New York. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Syracuse University and currently teaches illustration at Rochester Institute of Technology. Elaine's illustrations appear in numerous children's books, including six titles with Lerner Publishing Group. Her work also appears on Wegmans brand product labels and numerous Rochester-area festival posters, including Rochester's renowned Lilac Festvial.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 3-6-This novel-like biography recounts Pasteur's life from his childhood as a tanner's son, through his stormy schooling and early work with chemistry, to his monumental discovery that germs are the cause of many kinds of illnesses. Although Alphin explains the science in easily understood terms, the book is more about the man than his work. However, the author considers how Pasteur might have felt about his scientific struggles and his family tragedies without carefully documenting the sources. This makes the material more readable, but not useful for reports. A short glossary, a perfunctory bibliography, and an adequate index are appended. Verstraete's black-and-white paintings are merely decorative. Beverley Birch's Louis Pasteur: Father of Modern Medicine (Blackbirch, 2001) has informative color illustrations and focuses more on Pasteur's discoveries than his life. It is a better choice for motivated students who are not intimidated by some scientific vocabulary. Because Alphin's book looks and reads like a story, it is less intimidating and is a good choice for reluctant readers.-Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

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